Improvement in tourniquets



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS S. LAMBERT, OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOURNIQUETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,112, dated January '7, 1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS S. LAMBERT, of Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Instrument for Arresting the Flow of Blood in the Arteries; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, and being a perspective view of the instrument.

A P represent the arterial or compressor pad, made of the stoutest tin, with the edges hemmed and formed as shown, and is in size two inches across from end to end and half an inch thick, slightly concave on its lower surface, and correspondingly convex above. It has a half-cylinder passing through it from side to side and fastened above and below to prevent the surfaces from springing. It may be constructed of other metals, sheet or cast, or of wood or other appropriate material, may be solid or hollow, and have its ends open or capped, and its lower surface maybe convex for the use of the skillful surgeon, or, what is better, he can apply an additional compress below the concave surface.

Near the ends of the upper surface wings `W WV are attached by tin hinges H H, strongly soldered. One of the wings is one and a half inch square, while the other is enough larger to easily lit around it, thus allowing com pact package. The wings are also curved to throw up their outer ends, which should stand about an inch above the level of the lower surface. The wings may be made of tin or other metal, or of wood, solid or hollow, and fastened or hinged; but the most packable form is represented in the drawings which represents wings made of No. 9 tinned-iron wire, very unyielding, so as to keep its form under more than the necessary pressure. The wings may also be straight, or nearly so, and a wire or similar means fastened across the pad near the hinge under the wing to raise its outer end.

C 7a represent checks on the upper side of the expanded wings to prevent the compressing-bands from slipping.

C P represent a counteracting pad, like the arterial or compressor pad, except that it y is three instead of two inches long and has two semi-cylindrical braces through it. It is also furnished with two loops Z Z near the ends of the upper surfaces.

N E B represent a non-elastic band of webbing an inch wide and about half a yard long, one end of which is attached to the shorter wing of the compressor-pad, from which N E B extends over the smaller wing of the larger pad, under its loop, across the pad, under the other loop, and over the larger wing and is fastened to P, E B representing an elastic band an inch wide and about a yard long. It should be sufficiently elastic to stretch about double its length and sustain three pounds without stretching to its utmost when single.

The mode of using the instrument is to place the arterial pad over the main artery of the arm, leg, or temple, bring the concave surface of the counteracting pad against the opposite side of the limb or head, then pass the bands through the large wing of the compressor-pad and draw it tightly-to hold the pads in place, then turn the band directly back, so as to carry it over itself and the wings of both pads, the elastic part being stretched, so that each turn around the wings will increase the pressure till the flow in the artery is stopped, when the free end of the band should be passed under a tense turn of it, and thus held securely.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The application of the elastic band, with the pad for producing pressure on arteries, in the manner set forth.

2. The combination of an elastic band, in combination with a non-elastic one and with the pads for securing them in place and for making pressure, in the manner set forth.

3. The application of the wings to the pads, so as to permit collateral circulation, in the manner set forth.

el. The attachment of the wings by hinges to the pads, in the manner set forth.

5. The checks on the wings to prevent the bands from slipping, in the manner set forth.

6. The combination of the pads with the wings and inelastic bands, for the purpose of mak ing pressure on blood-vessels, in the manner set forth.

THOMAS S. LAMBERT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. LEE, GEO. T. DIoKrNsoN. 

